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Today is Halloween, a scary time of the year with the usual cast of ghosts and goblins. This year is even scarier with a horrific economic picture, deadly wars (making some people, as always, think the END TIME is near), and other depressing matters like political campaigns. On the Christian calendar this is Reformation Day, a day for Protestants to celebrate a tradition of faith in Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of saints like Martin Luther.
When Luther was depressed, and he often was, he recommended doing three things: have faith in Christ, get mad, and win the love of a good woman. I have had the third of the triad for over 36 years. I have my share of mad-moments (mostly when driving, but no road rage – my family may disagree). And the first of the three is an ongoing journey in Christ with times of love and anger, faith and doubts.
Music was also a great solace to Luther. He wrote hymns (some to tunes heard in the bars). My all-time favorite hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” was written while he was in the midst of deep depression. “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing….”
From the second verse: “Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he….”
“A Mighty Fortress” is based on my all-time favorite psalm, Psalm 46, which itself addresses a troubling time and opens with those marvelous words, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble…therefore we will not fear…”
Writing a first blog post is somewhat scary. As president of Baptist Seminary of Kentucky this is a scary time because of economy, which being translated, means concern about giving. In scary times (and good times) I go to the Scriptures and the hymnal. The hymnic refrain of Psalm 46 is encouraging: “The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge.”
Words worth pondering on Reformation Day.
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